Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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317. To ask the Minister for Health the details of the way in which the new funding for safeguarding will be utilised; if the funding will be absorbed into current HSE services; if not, if funding will be directed towards charity not-for-profit advocacy services such as services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51803/21]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I am delighted to have secured investment in Budget 2022 to support the development and establishment of 9 permanent multi-disciplinary Community Support Teams (CSTs), one in each CHO, as part of a wider overall allocation of €17.6 million to support the continued implementation of the recommendations of the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel Report. 

This investment aims to enhance the integration of all nursing homes, public, private, and voluntary, with the wider public health and social care system – a key pandemic learning. The teams will establish and maintain relationships with each nursing home and with HIQA at local level to proactively support residents, enhance awareness of and access to integrated care pathways for residents with more complex needs and support improved clinical governance. 

Budget 2022 is also supporting, when they are established, the appointment to each of the 9 CSTs of social work supports. These new resources will enhance the HSE’s Safeguarding and Protection Teams in each CHO and will be assigned to work with the new CSTs, having a particular focus on non-HSE residential care services. 

Further details of these initiatives will be finalised as part of the National Service Plan process.